Camouflage is primarily used for two reasons- a) to hide from predators & b) to stalk prey. In both situations, unless the animal superimposes its body against a matching substrate its strategy will not work. This praying mantis is camouflaged against a dry bark. However, if it sits on a green leaf its cover will be blown & it will be vulnerable to bird or lizard attack. Observe barks & leaves carefully. Being the most prevalent substrate, many animals have evolved colours to merge with them.

A praying mantis aligns its body patterns with the bark of a tree to dissolve into the background. Camouflage helps both in hunting prey and hiding from predators.